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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Crime News Update

Editor's note: The crime news reported by the Southwest Chicago Post---taken directly from Chicago Police Department incident reports---is not by any means an exhaustive catalogue of all crime reported in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District. For example, it typically does not include news of crimes committed in the eastern and southern sectors of the district---because the Southwest Chicago Post's coverage area is primarily the neighborhoods that border Midway Airport and secondarily because including the relatively large volume of crime news from elsewhere in the district would be a logistical challenge. We make this note to offer a little helpful perspective and remind everyone that while crime is definitely a concern in all parts of the district (as it always has been), crime remains relatively low overall in Sector 1. May all of us work together diligently to keep it that way. May all of us also remember that a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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A 20-year-old Clearing man is set to appear in court on misdemeanor charges of stealing a bicycle from an open garage a block away from his home.Childress Harrison III of 6416 South Long will appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch

Childress Harrison III

34-4, 151 West 51st Street, at 1:00 p.m. Monday, June 17, according to CPD.He also is set to appear in Cook County Circuit Court in Bridgeview on Monday, June 3 to answer to bail bond violation charges, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office.At 5:10 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, CPD responded to a 911 call of a theft in progress near 64th and Lorel. They said that when they arrived on scene, they were met by a 29-year-old Clearing man who said that he saw two men walking with a purple mountain bike near 6416 South Long. Police said he further stated that the two had gone inside the house.Another person, a 37-year-old West Lawn man, told police that he saw the two offenders take the bike from an open garage on the 6400 block of south Lorel.Police said they investigated and took Harrison into custody, along with Stafford Williams, 21, of 3622 South State.The bike was returned to its owner, a 60-year-old Clearing woman, police said.Police said that Harrison and Williams matched the descriptions given by police dispatchers. Further, they were positively identified by the two witnesses.

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A 25-year-old man from the Northwest Side's Belmont Cragin neighborhood is charged with burglary after he allegedly broke into the Chicago Industrial Catalytic warehouse, 4427 West 45th Street, and stole seven catalytic converters.Jose Cruz of 2620 North Menard is charged with burglary.Police responding to a burglar alarm at about 10:40 a.m. Friday, May 17 said they spotted Cruz hiding under a truck backed up to the loading dock. A 49-year-old Cicero man employed at the warehouse told police he did not know Cruz, and the truck had no business being there. The seven converters were found in the truck. The employee identified them as the company's property.

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Two people were taken to Christ Hospital in stable condition after they were stabbed during a family party near 61st and Massasoit.The crimes occurred at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Police responding to a "battery in progress" call said they saw a group of people outside a home, hollering at each other. They said they saw a 25-year-old Garfield Ridge man with two stab wounds to his body; and inside, a 39-year-old woman of the Massasoit address, also stabbed.With CFD ambulances on the way, police asked the woman for details on what had occurred. She claimed she was not aware who stabbed her but said it happened while she was trying to break up an argument. Police said that she then became uncooperative and verbally combative with them.Police noted that all adults at the party seemed to be intoxicated to varying degrees.Several claimed the person who stabbed the victims is a man who lives at the address, but who apparently fled before police arrived.Police also said that two of the men at the party are reputed gang members.

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A fight at the Watra nightclub, 4758 South Pulaski, left two men nursing minor injuries.At about 2:35 a.m. Sunday, May 19, a 23-year-old West Lawn man was on the dance floor when he was hit on the head with a beer bottle by another man.

The attack led to a multi-sided fight that spilled out onto the sidewalk, where a 26-year-old Clearing man was punched in the face.According to the victims, the two attackers (described only as white Hispanic men) then fled in a maroon Ford Explorer.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 815 or 821 (see map), come to St. Bruno School (south entrance) at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 5. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.

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A 19-year-old Hearst area woman told police that as she was walking near 48th and Cicero just before 4:00 a.m. Sunday, May 19, she was shot in the head by attackers wielding a BB or pellet gun.Police interviewed her while she was being treated at Mt. Sinai Hospital. She only described her attackers as three white Hispanic boys or men in a red SUV.

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A 20-year-old Back of the Yards man who told police he was walking home said he was beaten and robbed while walking on a sidewalk near 51st and Kenneth at noon Wednesday, May 15.

He said he was accosted from behind and asked "What you be about and what do you have?" He said he was then hit in the face and knocked to the ground, as one assailant pummeled him and the other went through his pockets.

He said they stole his cell phone and fled on foot. He described them only as white Hispanic boys or men ages 17-20.

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A 40-year-old West Lawn woman who heard a noise near her garage at 2:45 a.m. Saturday,

SWCP public service announcement

May 18 and went to investigate, saw a burglar fleeing with a bicycle and a shop vac.

The burglar apparently broke a window to gain access to the garage near 66th and Central Park.

The criminal is described as a white Hispanic man about 5'8 tall, with long black hair.

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Burglars broke into a garage near 62nd and Springfield and stole two air hammer drills and an air compressor.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 59-year-old man, at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, May 16 when he saw the overhead door off its rails.

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A 33-year-old Clearing man bringing his 61-year-old mother home from a doctor's appointment found her apartment ransacked.

The crime was discovered at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, May 16. The criminals had pried open the front door of the residence near 63rd and Neenah and stolen a TV, a laptop computer and an IPad.

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Burglars forced their way through a back window of a house near 78th and Keating and stole 10 gold rings and chains.

The crime was discovered by a 24-year-old babysitter when she returned to the home at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16 and found the premises ransacked. The victim, a 40-year-old man, was at work at the time.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 834 (see map), come to Bogan High School at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 6. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.

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public service announcement

A burglar entered the unlocked rear door of an apartment building near 61st and Kolmar and stole a bicycle and assorted tools from a basement storage area.

The crime was discovered by the victim, a 53-year-old man, at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 15. The man told police that he and his 16-year-old son toured the neighborhood and discovered a West Lawn teenager (a former friend of his son) riding the stolen bike. They demanded and got it back without incident.

The CPD incident report gave no indication on whether the tools were recovered.

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A 23-year-old Burbank man told police that he was beaten and robbed by three men on a sidewalk near 79th and Kostner at 10:20 p.m. Wednesday, May 15.

The man said he was walking to work when the crime occurred. He said that he was robbed of his cell phone and a set of keys. He described the attackers as black men age 18-20, 5'8 to 6'0 and 150-180 pounds.

Police at the scene said they saw no evidence of injuries on the man reporting the crime.

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About Us

The Southwest Chicago Post is an independent news service delivering news and opinion to the people of Chicago's Southwest Side.

We promote prosperity, progress and peace in the neighborhoods we serve.

We intend to champion homeowners, locally owned and operated small businesses and professional practices, schools, libraries, parks, houses of worship and more.

We also strongly support efforts to prevent crime and make our neighborhoods safer.

We cheerfully assist and promote members of our business and professional community, particularly those that are independent, locally owned and which hire local residents.

This online news service is owned and operated by lifelong Southwest Siders Joan Hadac (Editor and Publisher) and Tim Hadac (Managing Editor), both of whom have worked as local newspaper reporters and editors for over 25 years each.

Do you have a news tip, big or small? A letter to the editor? Want us to come out and cover your event? Let us know: editor@swchicagopost.com.